SD60 gets ‘clear direction’ from experts in wake of youth deaths in Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — School District 60 (SD60) has received guidance on what schools should be doing in the wake of the two youths who died. 

At the SD60 board meeting on January 19th, Stephen Petrucci, superintendent of SD60, spoke about working with a number of community partners after the tragedies over the 2025-2026 holiday in Fort St. John. 

SD60 has been consulting with Northern Health, School District 59, Safer Schools Together, the RCMP and B.C.’s ministries of health, education and child care, and children and family development. 

He said: “We’re keeping track in terms of both in school as well as in the community, and our clinical counsellors and social-emotional learning (SEL) teams in our schools continue the work that they do with these individuals and families.” 

On the advice from Safer Schools Together and Northern Health, he said: “We have some pretty clear direction in terms of what the school should be doing during instructional time and working with families and students.” 

Helen Gilbert, SD60 board chair, said currently SD60 is dealing with the crisis in the short term.

SD60 will be taking direction from professionals in the field and people working with students before moving into mid-term and then long-term planning. 

Petrucci also talked on an SD60 letter which was sent out on January 9th to parents and caregivers about child and youth mental health resources for families. 

The letter shared insights gained from SD60’s partners on ways parents, caregivers and other adults can communicate with children and youth. 

That includes preparing emotionally and mentally, using age-appropriate and honest language, encouraging ongoing conversation and watching for risks, including online.

Anyone struggling with their mental health is urged to access support, such as the 310 Mental Health Support at 310-6789 or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 988.